| |
 |
 |
|
Typical
Owls
»
Life span: 20 years or more
»
Weight: typical owls–1.5 ounces to 9 pounds (42.5 grams
to 4 kilograms)
»
Range: every continent except Antarctica
»
Wingspan: up to 43 inches.
»
Females larger than males.
»
Species: typical owls–189 species; barn owls–16 species
»
Food: Rodents, birds, reptiles, fish, large insects.
|
|
Since owls are night birds, they are difficult to see although their
characteristic songs and calls can often be easily heard.Because there
are owls living everywhere, there’s a good chance that there are several
different species of owls living near your home. Some owls prefer
cold climates, while others live in deserts or rain forests. Some,
like barn owls Tyto alba, hunt in wide open spaces. Others, like long-eared
owls Asio sp., make their home in the forest. A small wingspan on
a chestnut-backed owlet Glaucidium castanonotum helps it to navigate
around trees in a tropical rain forest, but the longer wings on a
barn owl are ideal for cruising over open fields. Animals that are
active at night usually have large eyes, which lets them make use
of any available light. With owls, the eyes are so big that they can’t
move in any direction. This means that an owl must move its entire
head to follow the movement of prey, but it also gives it better focus
with both eyes looking in the same direction. And even though it seems
that an owl can twist its head completely around, most owls actually
turn their heads no more than 270 degrees. |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
| Bird rescue & bird adoption;
parrot refuge/rescue & placement for unwanted birds. |
 |
|
 |
| Check out our list of local
birds broken down by your state and different types of
species. |
|
|
 |
| Migrating birds stay on track
because of chemical reactions in their bodies that are
influenced by the Earth's magnetic field... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Part
I
November
19, 2004